#Hutao02 The Curse Beneath the Stars

Sophia Bennett stepped out of a taxi, the misty glow of London’s streetlights shimmering on her long brown hair, accentuating her emerald green eyes ablaze with determination. At 28, Sophia, an investigative journalist from New York, had crossed half the globe to pursue a story that could redefine her career: mysterious disappearances in London, rumored to be linked to a secretive supernatural organization called Ordo Stellae (Order of the Stars). Vague articles and online whispers spoke of star-bound curses, but no one had concrete evidence. With sharp instincts and relentless curiosity, Sophia was determined to uncover the truth.

She pulled her suitcase along Covent Garden’s cobblestone streets, muttering, “Sophia, this is your shot. Don’t let London’s fog rattle you!” She paused before a quaint café, the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee making her smile. She snapped a photo of the night street, texting her best friend back home: “London’s like a fairy tale, but I’ve got a strange feeling.” At her boutique hotel, Sophia opened her laptop, heart racing as she read an email from an anonymous source: “Ordo Stellae operates in shadows. Find Julian Blackwood, but beware. He’s not what he seems.” She searched Julian Blackwood, and articles flooded the screen: a 33-year-old art entrepreneur, strikingly handsome, enigmatic, rumored to be a high-ranking member of a secret society. His photos—dark hair, storm-gray eyes, a smug half-smile—made her swallow hard. “Julian Blackwood, huh? Sounds like a thriller villain,” she murmured, her heart beating faster than usual.